Let Us Take A Look at the Employee Monitoring Definition

For years, employee monitoring has been introduced in the workplace. Whether a company is big or small, they cannot seem to work without employee monitoring tools. With employee monitoring tools, companies can operate the business smoothly and without any fears of data theft.

You may know about the concept of employee monitoring but we can bet you still do not know the exact employee monitoring definition. Let us take a look at the exact definition of employee monitoring and understand what it is all about.

Employee Monitoring Definition

According to TechTarget, the employee monitoring definition is as follows:

“Employee monitoring involves the use of various methods of workplace monitoring to collect information about the work activities and locations of employees and staff members.”

It involves all the tools, methods, and processes that an employer can use to keep an eye on their employees and staff members’ activities and locations during office hours.

Companies keep a watch on their employees in the workplace to enhance their productivity and protect the company’s sensitive information. The main intention to use employee monitoring tools is to prevent unacceptable and inappropriate behavior in the workplace. Employee monitoring is done so that unacceptable behaviour does not leave a negative impact on the company.

Why Employee Monitoring Should Take Place?

If we happen to look at the past and recent case studies, it is found that around 30 to 40 percent of employees and staff members access the internet for their personal activities. Other studies reported that around 21 to 31 percent of employees had sent emails containing the company’s sensitive information such as the company’s private documents to outsiders and third-parties.

The studies also showed that around 60 percent of online shopping was done by the employees during working hours. When there are no employee monitoring tools set in place, the employees tend to behave carelessly and do not pay attention to their work as much as they should.

They can do whatever they want. They can browse the internet, watch movies, talk to their friends on social media, and play online games with them. However, when they know all their work activities will be monitored by employers, they tend to be more careful with their work.

Employee monitoring increase work productivity, increase employee engagement and decrease the chances of data theft in the company. That is why most companies are now considering installing employee monitoring solutions in the workplace.

Types of Employee Monitoring Tools

Several types of employee monitoring tools are available out there. Employers can use more than one employee monitoring tool at the same time. Employee monitoring methods typically include CCTV cameras, internet monitoring, network monitoring, keystroke logging, and keycards.

CCTV cameras should be installed in every room except for restrooms and washrooms so the employees do not feel privacy invasion. Each employee should be given a keycard so their incoming and outgoing time can be recorded. With employee monitoring software like Mobistealth, employers can install them on their employee’s devices and then keep a track of their internet browsing history, emails, text messages, phone calls, location, and social media activity.

Keystroke logging can also be done with employee monitoring tools. All the keys typed by your employees on their devices will be logged and then transported to the online dashboard where the employers can monitor everything.

Network monitoring allows employers to track all the internet traffic coming and going out of the company’s internet network. Each monitoring tool has its advantages and disadvantages. The company needs to utilize them in the best way possible.

When Employee Monitoring is Applicable

Before a company decides to consider employee monitoring for their employees, they need to see whose equipment their employees are using and at what time they are using it. For instance, if the employers have given company-owned devices to their employees, they do not need to get their permission to monitor those devices.

However, if the employees have brought their own devices to the work, then that is another matter. The employees also do not like it when the employers monitor their activity outside of office hours or monitor their own devices during working hours.

It is important that employers inform their employees before they can install the employee monitoring software on their devices. The consent of employees should be taken before monitoring their work so that they do not feel offended. Also, it is not advisable to monitor their activity during off-hours because then it would lead to privacy invasion.

Before installing an employee monitoring solution in the workplace, employers should clarify the terms of acceptable and unacceptable use of the company’s resources and equipment during office hours and also design a comprehensive monitoring policy that all employees should agree to. Also, the negative effects of employee monitoring must be kept in mind.